SEAArch – The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog

With the withdrawal of troops from the Preah Vihear temple, authorities have noted increased visitor numbers to the temple, a quarter of which are foreign visitors.

photo credit: duhangst

Tourists pour into Preah Vihear
Phnom Penh Post, 03 September 2009
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While we’re on the topic of Bagan, it seems that the Myanmar Hoteliers’ Association will start a night market selling local handicrafts and goods in the upcoming tourist season starting on October. I wonder how this will this will make the ruins of the ancient city more alive at night and if the increased activity might pose a threat to the ruins.

photo credit: antwerpenR

Myanmar To Use Night Bazaar In Ancient City To Attract Tourists
Bernama, 27 August 2009
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Cambodian officials have denied that holes were drilled into the walls of Angkor Wat for the installation of light fixtures, which will allow visitors into Angkor until 8.30 at night. The lights are also said to be solar powered, rather than tapping onto the existing electricity grid. Can any recent visitors to Angkor confirm this? It’d be interesting to see how the light setup looks like, and how the atmosphere of the ancient temples change at night. This recent push to extend Angkor’s opening hours comes at a time when visitor revenues have dropped 20% in the first quarter of the year. The Apsara Authority blames the political instability in Thailand for the drop in revenue, but I also suspect that it’s the global downturn that’s having a significant role in the depressed tourism numbers.

photo credit: mckaysavage

New lighting for night visits at Angkor Wat ‘will not damage’ site
Earth Times, 3 June 2009

Angkor Wat revenues down 20pc in Q1
Phnom Penh Post, 2 June 2009
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A heritage conservtion specialist has appealed to the Cambodian PM about the recent installation of lights at Angkor Wat, arguing that they are unsightly and will do little to boost the income Angkor generates by allowing night tours. In contrast, the Minister of Tourism and the Apsara Authority have both made the case for increasing income, however they remain “vague” about the fixtures for the lights.

Angkor lights stir controversy
Phnom Penh Post, 28 May 2009
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A Thai commander posted at the Preah Vihear border has said that the entrance to Preah Vihear will be open to tourists next week, as the situation between the countries, while unresolved, has improved.

Entrance to Preah Vihear on Thai side to be accessible to tourists next week
The Nation, 11 May 2009
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Tourist operators are lobbying the Apsara Authority, which oversees the management of the Angkor Archaeological Park about making changes to the multi-day pass. A single-day pass costs USD20 while the USD40 pass allows for unlimited entry into the park over a period of three consecutive days; tourists argue that tourists usually suffer from temple fatigue by the second day and miss a last day of touring the temples. By making the multiday pass more flexible, tour operators argue, temple visitorship would rise and tourists can be convinced to stay longer. The argument makes sense from an economic point of view, but what would the effect 0f longer tourist stays and increased temple visitorships do to the already-strained environment?

photo credit: dav.pal

Tourism operators take on Apsara
Phnom Penh Post, 19 February 2009
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Is Angkor in danger of sinking, or isn’t it? The consensus among the scientific community is that the strain on underground water resources is unacceptably high, but the Cambodian government is saying, “not just yet”.

photo credit: anaru

Heritage site in peril: Angkor Wat is falling down
The Independent, 14 March 2008
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